Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Miles and miles...


It feels like I've been knitting for miles and miles. Alright, I'm being a little dramatic. But, I am making some headway. I'm not quite halfway through my "knit 168 rows straight" which makes up the back of the garment, but I'm getting there.


And, I've learned a few things too. I've never had to provisionally cast-on in the middle of my work, which I did by using the crochet chain method and knitting into the butts of the chain and putting those stitches back onto the needle. I've learned to rethink any sweater knit up in sportweight/sock yarn. AND (this is a big "and"), I'm finally more comfortable knitting continentally than english. This is a milestone for me. My left hand is so "dumb" that it's taken many many stitches to feel comfortable actually controlling the yarn in my left hand.

Finally, the last thing I've learned is that you just never ever know what will happen with variegated yarn. Check this out:


I heart argyle.

Friday, October 05, 2007

Slow goin'

I'm making some headway on my log cabin quilt, however it seems like it's taking forever. I'm not even halfway done with the piecing of the blocks. And while I didn't let the idea of quilting a king-size blanket deter me in the beginning, I'm starting to regret... no no, not regret... rethink my sanity? No no, regret my king-size decision.


I'm having fun piecing the blocks as I get to play and get used to my new Bernina. But, I'm no pro, by any means, and my log cabins are getting smaller and smaller as I end up squaring them further and further in because they're so crooked. I've invested in a precision piecing book, and I think my first problem is my cutting. I'll just have to address that with my next set of blocks.

And as for knitting (I'm really not doing the blog title justice these days), I'm not making very much headway on my Shibui Half Circle Cardigan, nor on my Jo Sharp Latte Sweater, nor on my Habu scarf. Nothing even worth photographing. The Half Circle Cardigan has my attention at the moment, and I'm at the point in the directions where I'm knitting a thousand gazillion rows straight. It's feeling tedious with sock weight yarn in a 2x2 rib. But, I'm trying to keep my eye on the finished product. A neat-o cardigan... that I probably won't wear as I'm also realizing the 2x2 rib is really not a good look for the well-endowed chesty ladies as I am, unfortunately.

Oh, and I signed up for a "quilt making by hand" class at Purl Patchwork. I feel so clumsy and all-thumbs around a needle and thread that I just had to torture myself with a proper 4-week long class. Excellent.

Monday, October 01, 2007

No happy medium

I can't seem to find a knitting project that is both interesting to knit and something I'll eventually wear. It would be exciting to sit around and knit lace or fair isle, but that's just not my style. I reached a point in Shibui's Half Circle Cardigan where I had to provisionally cast-on in the middle of the work. A little tedious, so my mind wandered and I started on a Jo Sharp sweater. Now, I know I'll wear it when I'm done. But it's garter stitch. I can't get more than 4 rows out before getting sleepy.


I wouldn't even be able to find something more boring. Back to Shibui.